Tree Removal Permit Guide for Surrey, BC

When Surrey requires a permit

The Surrey Tree Protection Bylaw, 2006, No. 16100 sets its size line at 30 cm. Measure the trunk at 1.4 m. If it reads 30 cm or more, the tree is protected. A stump that measures 35 cm or more is protected too.

These trees are protected whatever their diameter:

• every tree on City property;
• replacement trees;
• riparian trees and specimen-quality trees;
• the significant trees listed in Schedules B and B1 (382 of them);
• trees that hold raptor, osprey or heron nests.

Six named species are protected above a size the bylaw sets: Arbutus, Garry Oak, Ginkgo, and the Coast, Dawn and Giant Redwoods. Confirm that size with the City of Surrey.

What the permit costs

On an existing lot the fee has two parts: a base fee, and an added fee for each protected tree you remove. Section 36 of the bylaw sets these amounts. The confirmed fees:

Amount	Applies to
$108	base fee, existing lot zoned residential with no subdivision, or existing lot zoned commercial, industrial or institutional with no subdivision, consolidation, development permit or development variance permit
$560	per acre cleared, agricultural lot, plus taxes
$684	per acre, multi-family residential, commercial, industrial or institutional site, other than s.36 lots, plus taxes
$42	per protected tree removed, including the first, existing lot zoned residential with no subdivision, or existing lot zoned commercial, industrial or institutional with no subdivision, consolidation, development permit or development variance permit

Confirm with Surrey for the fees on a development or subdivision application.

Replacement trees and cash in lieu

Section 57 sets the ratio. Each protected tree removed means two replacement trees. Red alder and black cottonwood growing outside riparian areas replace at 1:1.

Cash-in-lieu is $550 plus tax per tree.

The confirmed security amounts:

Amount	Applies to
$3,000	protected tree other than significant or specimen quality, tree retained as a requirement of a subdivision, development permit, development variance permit, building permit or demolition permit
$550	replacement tree, 5 cm caliper deciduous or 3 m conifer, plus taxes, not part of the landscaping required under a development permit, development variance permit or subdivision
$1,100	replacement tree, 8 cm caliper deciduous or 4 m conifer, plus taxes, not part of the landscaping required under a development permit, development variance permit or subdivision
$10,000	significant tree, tree retained as a requirement of a subdivision, development permit, development variance permit, building permit or demolition permit
$5,000	specimen quality tree, tree retained as a requirement of a subdivision, development permit, development variance permit, building permit or demolition permit

How to apply

Surrey takes tree permit applications by email. Start from the City’s tree removal page, then send the application to treebylaw@surrey.ca. The Trees & Landscape Section handles the file.

What the arborist report covers

A report for a Surrey permit measures every tree the way the bylaw does: diameter at 1.4 m, with the three largest stems added together on a multi-stem tree. It marks each tree that the bylaw protects at any size, so a small tree on City property or a listed significant tree is not missed.

For trees that stay, the report sites the protection barrier from Schedule C, Table 1. Every row in that table is six times the trunk diameter. Section 63 requires the barrier whenever work happens within 10 m of a protected trunk. The fence stands at least 1.2 m high, in a contrasting colour, with a “Tree Protection Zone” sign.

Stump, stem and replacement rules

A 35 cm stump is a protected tree under the bylaw, so a tree cut years ago can still count. The stem rule works the other way. A clump of thin stems can cross the 30 cm line once the three largest are added up, even when no single stem looks large.

Then the ratio doubles the planting. Most removals owe two trees, and only red alder and black cottonwood outside riparian areas drop to one. A site plan that removes four maples therefore needs room for eight new trees, or cash in lieu paid to the City.

Who can sign the report

Surrey’s bylaw defines the arborist as an ISA Certified Arborist who is also an ISA Tree Risk Assessor. A report is valid for 2 years. Ask us before you order. We tell you whether we can take your file.

What we do and do not do

We prepare tree removal permit reports. We confirm availability for your address before we quote. If the removal ground is a hazardous or high-risk tree, ask us first. Some Metro Vancouver bylaws require a report author who also holds the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. We do not offer emergency service. We do not supervise construction.